The Iowa Utilities Commission modified a construction ban condition on the Summit Carbon Solutions CO2 pipeline, allowing the project to move forward despite a South Dakota law restricting eminent domain for carbon pipelines. The commission removed state-specific language from the permit, meaning Summit can now seek approvals for a complete route from Iowa to a sequestration site without being tied to specific state approvals. The company has already dropped eight Iowa counties and reduced the route by about 200 miles, removing over 400 landowners from the plan. Summit still faces significant hurdles. The South Dakota law effectively blocks the use of eminent domain for carbon pipelines in that state, and the company must prove the project serves a public purpose. The original permit remains under court review, and the commission noted that upcoming hearings could take weeks. The Iowa Farm Bureau is pushing for restrictions on eminent domain until the project's viability is fully established. The outcome will affect 27 ethanol plants in Iowa and the broader carbon capture pipeline network in the Midwest.
